Texas A&M draws familiar foe in OU in Cotton Bowl

Updated 12:18 pm, Monday, December 3, 2012

Receiver Ryan Swope is among several Aggies who will play in their second Cotton Bowl in three years.

Receiver Ryan Swope is among several Aggies who will play in their second Cotton Bowl in three years.

Photo: Karen Warren, Staff

Texas A&M draws familiar foe in OU in Cotton Bowl

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COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M only thought it had left its old Big 12 foes behind in July.

The 10-2 Aggies will face 10-2 Oklahoma, a former Big 12 South opponent, in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 4. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. on a Friday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

"Plenty of the (players') family and friends will be able to watch them play, and the hospitality is second to none," A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said.

The contest pits Sumlin against his one-time boss at OU, Bob Stoops. Sumlin was a Sooners assistant, including a stint as offensive coordinator, from 2003-07.

"The Cotton Bowl has long been a marquee postseason destination … and Cowboys Stadium is a great venue," Stoops said.

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Expectations exceeded

The Aggies won at least 10 games for the first time since 1998, when they finished 11-3 and earned their lone Big 12 title.

A&M also features the Heisman Trophy frontrunner in freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel.

The No. 10 Aggies played above expectations this season, including sweeping their road games in the Southeastern Conference. They also handed Alabama, which will play Notre Dame for the national title, its lone loss this season.

No. 12 Oklahoma is coming off a 24-17 victory at TCU on Saturday. The Sooners tied Kansas State for first in the Big 12, but the Wildcats won the head-to-head battle and earned the league's Bowl Championship Series berth. OU's only other loss was against Notre Dame.

A&M and OU competed annually as Big 12 members from 1996-2012 before the Aggies departed for the SEC this past July. The Sooners lead the series 19-11 and have won eight of their last nine meetings with the Aggies.

The Aggies last played in the Cotton Bowl two years ago as Big 12 members in a 41-24 loss to LSU of the SEC - now A&M's league rival.

"(We're) excited to go back to a great venue," A&M senior receiver Ryan Swope said.

Six current A&M starters also started in the Cotton Bowl two years ago, and 19 current Aggies played against the Tigers that night.

A&M is 4-8 in its dozen Cotton Bowl appearances, with its last win coming against Notre Dame following the 1987 season.

Desired matchup

"We hit a home run," said Tommy Bain, Cotton Bowl chairman. "When our team selection committee met for the first time a few weeks ago, we circled this matchup as the one we most wanted."

Indications last week were that the Capital One Bowl would select the Aggies, but the Capital One instead chose SEC title game loser Georgia for a matchup with Nebraska of the Big Ten.